Chapter 4, Deceiving Immortals

Consequently, selective ignorance, self-deception, and self-comforting techniques have become essential skills for the practitioners. However, if such methods are discovered and unraveled by others, it is highly likely that a few words could provoke the opponent's inner demons, leading to a defeat without a fight

A master does everything, except for that which goes against their true intentions

As long as he follows this person, Tang Jie is not in a hurry regarding the matter of cultivating immortality

When Xu Mu Yang awoke, the sky was already dotted with countless stars

It was only then that he realized the effects of the drugs on him had been completely collected by the youth, yet they lay at his feet

You said you might as well just say a few words casually, and there's no need to take it to heart. With a thick skin, perhaps he could comfort himself by saying that this is something he does not expect a return for. Considering that the other party has not suffered any harm or made any sacrifices, the cause and effect can be settled.

Fortunately, when he came out, Xu Mu Yang was already in a coma and could not possibly notice him. From the conversation just now, Tang Jie also deduced that Xu Mu Yang had not noticed him during the last battle, so his claim of merely passing by was entirely plausible

"They can take revenge for themselves, and I believe they will be grateful for it." Tang Jie replied calmly, as if the villagers of Xiahe Village were truly unrelated to him

For this possibility, he can pursue, seek, and even risk his life; naturally, he can also resort to deception

Losing a bet is merely a minor deception and does not warrant a death sentence

If it were not for this white jade powder, he would probably not have woken up so soon

However, he cannot help but do so

However, Tang Jie was well aware of how important it was to embark on the path of cultivation in this world, so even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance, he would still strive for it.

If one does not become an immortal, then one shall become a person of virtue

What medication?

Thus, each monk has his own method to solve problems, the simplest of which is to use a bottle of elixir to resolve everything as is done now

"White Jade Powder?" Xu Mu Yang exclaimed, noticing that the style of the bottle was clearly that of his own medicine

Although he saved Xu Mu Yang, Xu Mu Yang's sword also struck down the bandits, thereby saving him in return. It can be said that Xu Mu Yang does not owe him anything; rather, without this battle, Xu Mu Yang would not have suffered a relapse of his old injuries. Ultimately, it is he who owes the other party more.

This is a gamble, where human hearts are inscrutable; even immortals may not possess the ability to perceive the hearts of men

In his view, the other party is merely a twelve-year-old child, who will always have moments when they need his assistance, at which point he can resolve this causal relationship.

Who would pay extra attention to ants

If Tang Jie were to assist a tyrant who worships the law of the jungle and repays kindness with enmity, then even if the latter were to immediately rise and slay Tang Jie, there would be no inner demons, for that is the path he believes in

"Who are you to dare to touch my belongings?" Xu Mu Yang was extremely furious

Not only him, but even the young man had a layer applied on his back. This white jade powder is a rare item, and in fact, only a small amount is needed. The way that young man is using it is simply a waste of heavenly treasures

The person you scared away galloped off on horseback, and I was unable to dodge in time, receiving a slash from him. Tang Jie responded calmly

Indeed. I did not expect the young man to nod: "I know, so I opened your wound to take a look. I believe there should be medicine on your wound. The white jade powder you mentioned, I have cross-verified it with the medicine on your wound, and it should be correct.

Upon hearing this response, Tang Jie smiled

It is precisely for this reason that monks often possess unwavering beliefs; once they have embraced a certain ideology, behavior, or viewpoint, they are unlikely to change easily

The youth replied: "I know it's wrong to translate someone else's work, but both you and I have been hurt, and without medicine, we will perish"

The other party has just helped me; if I were to refuse, it would be excessively ungracious and contrary to my true intentions

Therefore, the inner demons do not distinguish between good and evil; they are merely the backlash of consciousness resulting from the actions taken by the practitioner during the cultivation process that once contradicted their true heart and beliefs

Seeing him refuse, Xu Mu Yang hurriedly said: "If you feel it is not enough, I ... ... "

He does not understand the demons of the heart, yet he knows human emotions; to a certain extent, the two are one and the same

Do not worry about whether it is sufficient; the inner demons originate from the heart. As long as you feel that the reward is enough and you have no regrets in your heart, then there is no problem

This fellow only used the medicine after examining his own wounds, no wonder among so many medicines, he specifically chose the right one, Baiyu San

At this moment, Xu Mu Yang thought back and forth, and could only accept the company of others for now

If he were to cut, it would be in accordance with his own path; if he does not cut, it may instead give rise to inner demons

He did not ask the owner's permission when taking the item. Xu Mu Yang intended to stop him, but considering that the other party had saved him, he thought it would be petty to intervene, so he ultimately decided to let it go

Of course, it can also be said that the illustrations in the book reveal what has been overlooked. In the eyes of the immortal, a mere mortal like myself must seem like an existence akin to that of an ant

He wants the immortal to owe him a favor; only in this way is it possible to obtain that thread of immortal destiny

It is merely about resolving cause and effect; acting in accordance with one's true intentions is a habit cultivated by every practitioner over the years. This is akin to opening a door to conduct business; regardless of the size of the transaction, each deal must be handled with diligence.

When there is a rift in the heart, inner demons arise. If there are countless fissures, then the inner demons become endless. At that time, no matter how profound your cultivation, even immortals will find it difficult to save you. Therefore, this is a matter that every practitioner must be cautious and mindful of.

Indeed, upon hearing Tang Jie say that he was not from Xiahe Village, Xu Mu Yang was clearly taken aback: "You are not from Xiahe Village? Then what is the matter with the wounds on your back?"

A master's life is long, filled with countless experiences, entangled in various causes and effects. If one were to take every matter seriously, it would indeed be impossible to do anything else.

It is precisely for this reason that he cannot acknowledge himself as a resident of Xiahe Village

Causality must be understood, but how it is understood is a matter of learning

If one's beliefs change midway, it is very likely that one will regret past actions, and that will be the time when inner demons begin to thrive

The only thing he dared not confirm was whether Xu Mu Yang, as an immortal, could possibly detect his lies

Ultimately, it was still a step too late, and the villagers of Xiahe Village could not be saved

Xu Mu Yang was completely speechless

His long career in the officialdom has made him understand that in order to cling to a powerful figure, one must first make that powerful figure like you

I did not expect him to follow up with the words, "Let us walk together all the way," which indeed caused some trouble

It is important to note that this inner demon is unrelated to morality; it does not imply that if you save me, I must repay you, nor does it mean that every action must have a corresponding consequence. It is solely related to individual character and beliefs

Tang Jiao shook his head: "I was just passing by and happened to see you faint after killing the bandits."

Absurd! Xu Mu Yang exclaimed: "Under the heavens, all things are in constant flux; even the holy immortals can only gaze upwards. The heavenly secrets cannot be fathomed, how dare one speak of conquering them? This fortune teller is rebellious and unprincipled, spouting wild claims; he deserves to be beaten to death with a club!"

At least not everyone possesses it

The plight of the villagers in Xiahe Village has made Tang Jie acutely aware of the tragic fate of those who are like lower-class ants. Tang Jie is determined to change this fate at all costs.

After some thought, Xu Mu Yang asked, "Are you from Xiaohe Village?"

In the end, is it that Tang Jie encounters death and is reborn, or is it that Tang Jie has crossed over into Tang Jie's body? To be honest, even Tang Jie himself is somewhat unclear about it

Tang Jie resolutely decided to take the gamble

Xu Mu Yang's self-deception technique is evidently still lacking, hence he resorts to a bottle of premium Spirit Moistening Elixir. For those with thick skin and dark hearts, I will count the little bit of White Jade Powder you used as compensation for you.

The lie not being exposed at the outset signifies that Tang Jie has already won the two most crucial points in the gamble

Compared to the first sentence, which was somewhat flustered, Tang Jie responded with much more composure in the second sentence

Xu Mu Yang was just about to ask when he noticed the medicine bottle in the young man's hand

He was about to sit up when the young man pressed him down, saying, "Don't move, you've just been medicated"

Xu Mu Yang, on the other hand, felt like crying but had no tears.

Xu Mu Yang said: "The injury I sustained appears to be an external wound, but in reality, it is the result of domineering energy entering my body, disrupting my meridians. The Baiyu San can help stabilize my spiritual energy and repair my meridians. The wound is intentionally left unhealed, solely to expedite the effect of bloodletting. However, using it to treat your external injury is an overuse of resources, and moreover, the medicine is not suitable for your condition; you should use the bottle of Duanxu ointment next to it instead."

Since this immortal has vanquished demons and eradicated evil, it is unlikely that he would end his own life over a mere lie

Tang Jie?" Xu Mu Yang pondered over the name for a moment, furrowing his brow: "This name carries too much killing intent, it is inauspicious!"

Xu Mu Yang was momentarily stunned, and after a brief pause, he said: "I see now, thank you for saving me, young brother"

The items carried by a master are often related to their life and safety, and should not be moved lightly

"... ... Xu Mu Yang." Xu Mu Yang replied somewhat reluctantly

Tang Jie can be considered one of the best among them. He has not cultivated immortality, but has resorted to deception, yet he feels no guilt in his heart. He looks down upon this elixir and casually says, "I do not want it."

However, at the first meeting, he deceived the immortal, which can be considered an extreme act of audacity.

The immortal master acts with righteousness and chivalry, valiantly slaying bandits; what I do is nothing remarkable.

Tang Jie had already stood up: "Helping is merely a matter of convenience, and the immortal master need not take it to heart. By the way, I noticed you came from the east, so you must be heading to Anyang Prefecture. Coincidentally, I am also going there. Why not travel together? It would be beneficial, especially since the immortal master is injured, and there may be many inconveniences along the way. Perhaps I can offer some assistance."

Xu Mu Yang hails from a prominent family; although he is not a paragon of virtue, he does possess the concept of repaying kindness and has an affinity for books and illustrations.

He is nervous, not because he is lying, but because he is lying to an immortal

Although he had been desperately seeking before, achieving that pursuit does not guarantee that the immortal will accept him

Tang Jie certainly did not know where Xu Mu Yang was headed, but it was certain that going straight from this place would lead to Anyang Prefecture, so it was undoubtedly correct for him to say that he was going to Anyang Prefecture.

At this moment, he took out a bottle of elixir and placed it in Tang Jie’s hand: "This bottle of Lingrun Pill has the effect of nourishing the spirit and enhancing vitality. Even a mortal can strengthen their body and ward off illness by taking it. You have helped me, so I will gift you this medicine. You may also take the other bottle of Duanxu Ointment."

As he spoke, he patted the package that had long been prepared beside him, and then busied himself with the medicine on the ground, using the task of handling the medicine to mask his inner tension

So that's how it is, I was wondering why this immortal's elixir couldn't even heal a superficial wound. The young man suddenly understood, and he picked up the intermittent ointment, poured some out, and applied it to himself. Indeed, he felt a coolness on his back, and even the pain had diminished somewhat

Seeing this expression, Xu Mu Yang had no more doubts, and could only sigh, wondering how he had become entangled in such heavy karma

In fact, if he truly wants to leave now, it is not impossible; this minor issue that has given rise to inner demons may not necessarily have any significant impact on him

If one is now "extended a helping hand," then one must repay it in any case

"There is no death by a random stick, but there is a way to be beaten by one. Despite this, my parents ultimately named me. Two years ago, I faced a great calamity, and my parents passed away, yet I was reborn... Perhaps this is the fate I was meant to endure." Tang Jie said casually.

In fact, last time he did hear the Golden Armored Celestial God calling the other party's name, yet at this moment he pretended not to know.

But no matter what, in this life, he is Tang Jie

The young man has returned to his side and said: "My name is Tang Jie, Jie as in calamity. What about you?"

In the battles among immortals, there are often instances where one can defeat an enemy merely through words, and this is the crux of the matter. Similarly, cultivators tend to be reticent about their own experiences to avoid giving others leverage against them

Xu Mu Yang then realized that a thick layer of white jade powder had already been applied to his wound, indicating that this young man had come to change the dressing for him

This response implies that during the last battle, Xu Mu Yang did not notice himself

medicine

The door of opportunity has already been opened, and what remains to be done is to seize it with the map and the book

Upon learning that Xu Mu Yang was willing to accompany him, Tang Jie smiled happily

When Tang Jiao saw the appearance of the celestial being in white, he knew that the opportunity of his lifetime had arrived

Then create it yourself

The immortal family places great importance on cause and effect; if there are unresolved causes and effects, it often leaves a slight fissure in the depths of the heart

His storage bag was destroyed in the last battle, so he could only carry his belongings with him, unexpectedly being turned upside down by a mere mortal boy

Even if it were truly beheaded, what difference would it make

Having won the bet, he made a celestial being owe him a favor

The path to immortality is hard to find, and the road to becoming an immortal is elusive. Countless mortals pursue the attainment of immortality, yet few succeed. Even when they encounter immortals, guidance is seldom granted.

The true heart is difficult to deceive; even if you have forgotten certain matters, the true heart still remembers, and inner demons arise by themselves

In that case, the subsequent matters will be much easier to handle

This is his first encounter with an immortal

The inner demons are ultimately the result of a lifetime of accumulated actions

Xu Mu Yang wished to repay a favor with a bottle of elixir, which was absolutely unacceptable

Not far from him, a pile of bonfires was burning, and in the glow of the flames, a young boy was sitting beside him

At that moment, he suddenly sat up, and with his right hand, he grasped at the air. In the distance, an ancient and heavy bronze mirror flew into his palm. Due to the use of spiritual energy, his blood surged within him, and he spat out a large mouthful of blood. However, Xu Mu Yang disregarded everything and first stored the bronze mirror away, and only then did he pick up a jade slip beside him, but this time he did not use the method of remote object capture.

Xu Mu Yang's tone softened considerably: "So that's how it is. However, you are rather bold. Do you not know that although the immortals possess elixirs, if they are not used correctly, not only will you not benefit from them, but you may also suffer harm? Not using the medicine can lead to death, and using it incorrectly can also lead to death"

This fissure may seem insignificant at first glance, but within the five realms of cultivation and the fourteen stages, one of the stages is the Heart Demon Stage

Since the heavens have sent themselves into this world without granting themselves a golden finger

Tang Jie smiled and said, "When I was born, it coincided with the upheaval of the Central Plains and the calamity of the golden haze swallowing the moon. A fortune teller said that the appearance of unusual phenomena in the heavens is a sign of great misfortune. It was said that I was born in response to this calamity, destined to face three disasters and nine tribulations, bringing calamity to the common people, and causing harm to my father, mother, friends, and wife, as well as to all those close to me. I would even bring misfortune to heaven, earth, and all things, and to the heavenly way itself, with no exception. Therefore, it was suggested that my parents name me Tang Jie, to correspond with this calamity through my name, in the hope that it might transform misfortune into good fortune."